Fort Morgan Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic

City gas dept. earns national award for safety

First-place award recognizes lowest rate of injuries

By Times Staff

Posted:
08/26/2013 10:37:06 AM MDT

The city of Fort Morgan Gas Department has earned the American Public Gas Association Safety Award for safe operating practices in 2012.

The Gas Department earned a First Place Award in Group B of the APGA's 2012 Safety Contest for utilities with 8,000 to 18,000 worker-hours of annual worker exposure. Contest winners are systems with the lowest rate of reportable injuries during 2012.

The awards were announced during the association's annual conference in Boston.

Public gas systems have one of the best employee safety records of any industry, according to the APGA, in no small part due to ongoing emphasis on employee safety among APGA member systems.

"Implementing safe utility practices requires the commitment and hard work of the entire department," said Tony Behrends, Fort Morgan gas superintendent. "We're very proud of our safety record. It's a reflection of trained and skilled employees who are committed to the highest standards of public service."

APGA is a national organization created in 1961 and currently representing more than 700 publicly owned natural gas distribution systems.